8 Best acoustic and electric guitar capos in 2022

It’s safe to say that even the best guitar capos are, at their core, quite straightforward mechanical devices. Simply said, a guitar pitch raiser clamp functions in the same way as barring your finger across a higher fret to increase the pitch of your instrument. Jamming in keys with problematic sharp or flat key signatures is made much easier with capos, which allow you to play the same open chord forms as in the first position.

Every guitarist should have at least one guitar capo in their arsenal, regardless of the sort of guitar they play. The guitar capo is a great present idea for any guitarist, as having an extra capo is never a bad thing.

When it comes to guitar capos, you have an unbelievable amount of options to choose from on the internet. But how do you differentiate the genuine articles from the fakes when there are so many options? We’re here to help by providing an in-depth analysis of several of the finest capos now on the market.

Our Top Picks Of Best Guitar Capos in 2022

Using a capo is a fantastic method to unlock new levels of expression on your chosen instrument. You’ll find the best of the best in electric and acoustic guitars, ukuleles, 12-strings, and more here.

1. G7th Performance 3 ART Capo
2. Shubb C1 Steel String Capo
3. Ernie Ball Axis Capo
4. Dunlop Trigger Capo
5. Planet Waves D’Addario NS Capo Pro
6. Paige Original 6-String Acoustic Capo
7. Creative Tunings Universal Spider Capo Standard
8. Kyser Pro/Am 6-String Guitar Capo

Just recently, the G7th Performance 3 ART Guitar Capo entered the market, and we’ve been really pleased with it. It’s almost as fast to adjust as the super-convenient quick-release spring-clamp design, and it’s not too heavy. The bare essentials are discussed at length.

The Adaptive Radius Technology of the G7th is also available to you. In brief, the G7th can be used with either flat or curved fretboards with only minor adjustments to the tuning necessary. The G7th strikes an excellent balance between accessibility, features, and value; we wouldn’t hesitate to shell out the extra cash required to purchase it.

You can’t go wrong with the Shubb S1 steel-string capo if you’d like to save a few dollars. Knowing that the S1 is made by Shubb, a trusted brand in the capo business, will give you peace of mind that it will last for years to come. It has a stylish, minimalist appearance that won’t go in the way of your playing, and the simple yet effective screw tensioner will ensure that your strings are always at the perfect tension. Costing more than a few dollars, it’s undeniably worthwhile.

G7th Performance 3 ART Capo

Specifications

Brand	G7th
Color	Silver
Material	Silver,Steel,Nylon
Item Weight	0.06 Kilograms
Item Dimensions LxWxH	2.5 x 2.75 x 0.59 inches

For less than ten dollars, you can get a capo, so what’s G7th’s big concept with the $50 price tag? Is there a way to know if the price tag is justified.

The G7th Performance 3 ART, with its Adaptive Radius Technology (a system in the top bar that adapts to the curvature of your guitar’s fretboard), is a good example. What’s the plus? Since the capo creates even contact with all six strings, there shouldn’t be any buzzing at the capo’d fret. As a result, the tuning stability is optimised.

The G7th is an excellent option for any guitarist who places a premium on high-performance capos due to its sturdy construction, easy use with one hand, and reasonable price tag.

Shubb C1 Steel String Capo

Specifications

Brand	Shubb
Color	Chrome
Material	Nickel,Steel
Style	C1 Nickel Capo
Item Weight	0.15 Pounds

Shubb’s Standard C series of capos has various upgrades only found in their S model. It’s the deluxe version for the regular price. Bargain! The slim profile of this capo shouldn’t get in the way of your playing around the fret that you have it clamped on.

After setting the desired amount of pressure with the screw tensioner, the guitar capo can be locked in place with a simple flip of the lever or removed entirely. Although switching a capo from one guitar to another or even just moving it around the fretboard won’t take more than 20 seconds, a quick-release capo may be more convenient for frequent capo-hoppers.

Although, that is a small criticism. This is a tried-and-true layout, a tried-and-true industry standard that will stand the test of time. Confidence in your purchase is warranted.

Ernie Ball Axis Capo

Specifications

Brand	Ernie Ball
Color	Black Satin
Material	Aluminum
Style	Radius Capo
Item Weight	0.1 Kilograms

The Axis capo by Ernie Ball looks great and has a lot of potential, but that potential goes beyond its aesthetic value. The fact that it can be used with one hand is arguably its greatest strength. Want to switch caps in the middle of a song? Sure thing! If you want to shift the Axis, just grab it and pull it. Springs take care of tensioning on their own. There are no simpler capos to use, so long as you take care not to bend the strings.

Even if your guitar’s fretboard is curved, that won’t be an issue. The Axis features a flat fretboard arm and a radiused fretboard arm, each with rubber padding for comfort. To make the guitar capo work with your particular board, simply switch its orientation. The arms occasionally get in the way, but other from that, we have no complaints about the ergonomics.

Dunlop Trigger Capo

Specifications

Brand	JIM DUNLOP
Color	Black
Material	Aluminum
Item Weight	2.31 Ounces
Item Dimensions LxWxH	5.75 x 4.5 x 1 inches

The Trigger capo from Dunlop has been popular for quite some time. Another ‘industry standard,’ according to some. Given that both the Ernie Ball Axis and this model are spring-loaded quick-release designs from 2020, there is an obvious rival. The Trigger, like the Axis, has spring-loaded arms that allow for quick and simple key changes. Easy!

The Trigger’s construction is reassuringly solid, which bodes well for its intonation in practise. However, the Axis beats it in terms of both cost and adaptability. However, I can see no fault with this. An excellent guitar capo with a long history of reliable use. The Trigger will be useful if you decide to purchase one.

Planet Waves D’Addario NS Capo Pro

Specifications

Brand	D’Addario Accessories
Color	Black
Material	Aluminum,Bronze,Silver
Style	Planet Waves NS Capo
Item Weight	0.3 Grams

This guitar capo by D’addario is made to be as unobtrusive as possible to your playing, so it’s light and compact. Since the NS Pro is so light, it won’t drag down your guitar’s neck when you capo it at the first or second fret, and its small size will make it simple to fret above or below it.

The fretboard radius on your guitar should be just right for this design. For classical guitar or other instruments with a flatter radius, you’ll need a different capo, which, to be fair, D’addario does supply. Please keep your mind that this capo is not universally sized. Looking to save costs, stat! Rather, think about the D’addario NS Lite; it’s plastic, yes, but it’s high-strength moulded ABS, so it should last through years of hard use.

Paige Original 6-String Acoustic Capo

Specifications

Brand	Paige
Color	Satin Nickel
Material	Nickel

A wraparound had to make the cut, and the Paige more than holds its own as a competitor for your cash. The guitar capo’s front arm is pulled taut across the fretboard by a tension screw located in the neck’s centre. The design significantly reduces any string pull in the sideways direction, thus it should stay in tune.

In order to facilitate string bending and fit all but the most curved fretboard radii, the electric guitar version is made with thicker rubber. Also, if width is a problem, which it often is with wraparounds, there is a broader option available. Please check the width of your guitar neck against the 2.062 inch width of the Paige (or 2.187 inches for the wide variant) to guarantee a proper fit.

Creative Tunings Universal Spider Capo Standard

Specifications

Brand Name	‎Creative Tunings
Manufacturer	‎Creative Tunings
Size	‎Pack of 2

The SpiderCapo is a clever take on a simple tool that lets you clamp each string separately, opening up a wide variety of tuning options. Not a single string needs to be retuned!

For example, to play an open A chord, you could set a SpiderCapo in the second position, clamping only the strings that are fretted while leaving the others open. But since you can only capo one fret, you’re out of luck if you want to play in a tuning with a lot of chords.

You can use the SpiderCapo with any fretboard radius, but doing so requires adjusting the pressure on each string individually, which can take some time. Another strange feature is that fretting unclamped strings is impossible while the capo is in the down position.

However, if a guitar capo can inspire fresh ideas, it’s well worth the investment. Even though it is aimed for technically proficient acoustic fingerstylists, we think any musician looking for new ideas would benefit from listening to this album.

Kyser Pro/Am 6-String Guitar Capo

Specifications

Brand	Kyser
Color	Black
Material	Aluminum
Style	Classic
Item Weight	0.04 Kilograms

If there are other guitar capos on our list with higher quality, then why should we include Kyser’s budget offering? Actually, it’s the least expensive option we provide. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a capo that you can throw in your gig bag and forget about. If you buy two or three, you’ll never run out.

It’s not exactly stylish, but for a few extra pennies you can have something that does the job far better than any elasticized wrap-around variety. The screw tensioner, which must be adjusted by hand before each Pro/Am relocation, is our only real complaint. It’s a little boring, but for this cheap, we can’t really complain.

What is the fretboard radius?

It’s understandable if all this discussion of fretboard radiuses has left you feeling bewildered, but rest assured: there’s no need to worry. The radius of this crucial component of your guitar describes its shape. The soundboards of some guitars (such as some old Fenders) are rounded, whereas the soundboards of others are nearly flat. Although each type of fretboard has its advantages, it is safe to say that every capo design is a compromise of some sort.

If you try to use a round guitar capo on a flat fretboard (or vice versa), you’ll end up with string buzz (a noise created where the string isn’t entirely clamped) and out of tune strings (where strings are pushed sharp from over-tightening the guitar capo). An ideal solution would be for every capo to deliver uniform pressure to all six strings (and each fret position).

Radiused capos are used on guitars with rounder fretboards, whereas flat capos are used on shredder SuperStrats and classical guitars. Finally, there are “all-in-one” capos, which are able to work with a variety of fretboard radiuses (including the G7th) or include both flat and rounded surfaces.

Can I use any guitar capo to work on my guitar?

Ultimately, you should prioritise compatibility with your guitar when selecting a high-quality capo. If you find a guitar capo you like, there is definitely a brand that makes one specifically for your guitar model. If your instrument’s neck or fretboard isn’t much different from the standard, you probably won’t need to acquire a specialised guitar capo. These days, regular capos are also available in sizes that work with 7-string necks, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one that fits.

While there are a variety of guitar capo designs, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, the issue of fretboard radius should be your primary focus. When you’ve settled that, you can focus on other factors like comfort, durability, and functionality (and of course, aesthetics are always appreciated). So, we’ve only included recommendations for the most durable capos in this guide to the finest guitar capos. Anything that can be sewn, moulded, or stretched is off limits.